Remote group meetings

Because of isolation due to pandemic, people are more open than every to caring groups that help them grow spiritually. Groups of people can meet remotely, seeing each other from multiple locations. This can be kept private or livestreamed publicly. These meetings can be for your entire church, dialogue between you and a missionary or evangelist at another location).

Your church can have virtual small groups or prayer meetings (sample) Learn more here. You can integrate new online attendees (1) have some online groups be virtual growth track class, virtual team trainings, training? 1, 2, 3, 4 , 5Technical suggestions 1

Video conferencing software options

Google Meet is now free for everyone, up to 100 users. source has Closed caption automatically shared (English-only) link

Facebook Workplace or Rooms (both up to 50 people free) Workplace includes file sharing and other features.

https://zoom.us Limitation in free version up to 100 participants and 40 minutes in meetings

$20 per host for first paid tier increases meeting during limit to 24 hours (cost)

Tips to maintain privacy. https://youtu.be/Ok25ps-vQcA Avoid “Zoom-bombing” by using the secure passwords provided & other precautions. Participants should not install Zoom on computers with sensitive data or discussion 1234

join.me for virtual meetings that are more presentation than collaborative, and one advantage they have is dial-in numbers (international!) as well as screen sharing. Often telephones still provide better audio! Pricing/plans here, free trial, there’s nonprofit pricing buried quietly on the page: https://www.join.me/pricing

When you work as a team, you want to make sure that you can see each other the whole time and hear from each other. That participation helps build momentum. You can also poll a teams interest in a subject using build-in polling tools, Mentee, or hand gestures like people holding up number of fingers to show their approval or comfort with a topic.

Besides the video conferencing tools, you may also want a place to type a running chat of issues and thoughts through the week when you are not having video chat.

Bible reading plans [from YouVersion Bible App] linkIdea – ask others in your small group to join you in a Bible App reading plan. You can share a plan with friends and read the Word together. There’s lots being highlighted at the moment about fear & anxiety!

Prayermate Share enables you to keep your small group updated with prayer needs link